'Poke the Box' by Seth Godin

I picked up this book from the library and it has been such a timely read for me. Over the past weeks, I have had numerous "first-time" moments which can bring with it a lot of learning, feedback and fulfillment but also self-doubt! What I have learned to remind myself is I won't know something will work if I don't give it a try, if I don't start.

"There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth. Not going all the way and not starting." - Siddhārtha Gautama

Have a read of the 1st edition of this newsletter on Getting Started, where I share about how coaching helped me reframe my mindset and get over my starting troubles. The thing with starting is it isn't a one-time activity. Like any habit it involves consistency to keep going!

Seth Godin's book helped me revisit what initiating something (anything really) meant in order to make it part of one's way of life. Read on for a summary of my key take-aways and inspirational quotes from the book like this one:

"When was the last time you did something for the first time?"

1. Rewire our avoidance of failure.

How many times have we been told in our childhood - "don't do that, you will end up crying"? We are conditioned to fear and avoid failure. We are also experts in pointing fingers and quick to critique things that go wrong. Avoiding failure is counterproductive. More we start, more we progress.

2. It's the right thing to do.

Starting is a moral obligation. Similar to how there is a moral obligation to be honest and to treat people with respect. If you've got a platform and the ability to make a difference, then you should go beyond "should" to the level of "must". Wasting this opportunity degrades your ability to contribute and takes something away from the rest of us.

3. Poking doesn't mean right.

It means action. It means initiating, trying, failing, learning, starting. Stories of many brands as we know today didn't start by having everything figured out. Even a 'wrong' start can be the hardest and most important part of the journey.

4. Bring back maybe.

Our world is a lot more complicated than it appears. The industrial age pushed us to be efficient, not lose time making decisions and mostly comply to what has been tested and proven. The digital age conditions us to search for quick answers (and results), programming outcomes like matches and decision trees - on or off. Both don't like "maybe". Initiative and starting are about neither of these. They are about "let's see" and "try".

5. Skill up for between the frames.

You would notice in comic books there's that little gutter, the space in between the frames which is left open to our imagination. What comic artists show is often the action and the results. They avoid showing how the hero or villain is making a choice. Action is easy once you have a plan. Formulating a plan however is a rare and valuable skill.

6. Beware of Tall Poppy syndrome.

As they say in Australia - 'don't stand out or you'll get cut down'. We are trained to fit in and the easiest way in the world to fit in is to never initiate. We spend most of our days waiting for permission to start. If you have been hired to work somewhere, that's your permission to speak up, to start, to initiate.

7. Redefining quality.

"Good enough" used to be the definition of quality. This has now come to zero defects for very good reasons of course. If you are not shipping products or creating something that needs to be functional and safe, does it really have to be anything but good enough?

8. Ego isn't all nasty.

When our name is on a project, our ego generally drives us to do even better work. How can we use our ego to push us to also be the initiator? The one who isn't afraid to start. The one who sees the real win in the outcome and not seeking credit.

9. Turn initiative into a passion and practice.

This is what the most successful individuals have mastered. The challenge is not in perfecting the ability to know when to start and when to stand by. It's in getting into the habit of starting.

10. Keep starting until you finish.

If you planned to walk somewhere, you get started by putting on your shoes. Then taking one step at a time. If it's a long walk, you rest and start again. Starting something is not an event. It's a series of events.

One thing the author reminds us and I wanted to call out is that starting or initiating something doesn't have to feel grand or world-changing. It could be something as simple as being the person who informs the relevant team about a leaky tap in the washroom! It's about being the person that takes the initiative and is not waiting for permission.

"Imagine that the world had no one telling you what you couldn't do. If you lived in that world, what would you do? Go do that."

Oh hi???? You have made it to the footer, where I get to share a bit about myself!

As an ICF trained coach, I am passionate about helping individuals gain clarity on their goals, uncover what’s holding them back and embark on a transformative journey. Using a results-focused, brain-based approach, I facilitate insights that empower you to discover your unhidden potential and take meaningful action for growth.

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